Anumber of years in the making, Killarney Community Pool began life as a 1960s-era community center that added a gymnasium, fitness center, multipurpose space and a child-care center in 1999. This phase of the project encompasses three new pools and related spaces within a masonry, wood, standing-seam galvalume and glass structure that one panelist called, simply, ?very cool.? Extensive glazing on the north side of the building, with the colored glass panels marking operable windows for natural ventilation, allows for ample indirect natural lighting and takes advantage of both immediate and distant views. The natatorium?s slender rectilinear form, torqued to form a parallelogram, focuses the view to two prominent peaks on Vancouver?s north shore.
Judges also were impressed by the project?s European-style universal changing room. Whereas three equally sized changing rooms (male, female and family) are typically provided in a project of this scale, Killarney provides smaller, private changing rooms surrounding a large day-lit locker space that is open to view.
Judge's Comments
The colored glass in the large expanse
of glazing provides a hint of playfulness
that is reinforced with wonderfully
detailed interior wood columns and roof
structure.
— Tom Betti
The team used very simple solutions
that result in wonderful space, daylighting
and views of the mountains. The
universal changing room is a great
way to maximize space.
— James Meyer
The angular geometry of the plan and
section complement each and enhance
the large pool volume.
— Tom Scarlata
Germantown Indoor Swim Center
